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·Don't organists give of their time freely, or as good as, to the likes of churches? Many do/did in the UK, from what I can remember.
A brief search didn't turn up much in the way of web resources for organists in France. At least, not sites that had been updated recently.
(Going off-topic, it's funny what can turn up in search results. This article from the Lyon-based Progrès is about an organist who was eventually tracked down for his crimes - a serial killer of local cats, 17 in total! He got three months suspended. It doesn't say if he lost his job...)
A brief search didn't turn up much in the way of web resources for organists in France. At least, not sites that had been updated recently.
(Going off-topic, it's funny what can turn up in search results. This article from the Lyon-based Progrès is about an organist who was eventually tracked down for his crimes - a serial killer of local cats, 17 in total! He got three months suspended. It doesn't say if he lost his job...)
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Good question - how exactly do professional organists support themselves in France? Frankly, I can't think of a church I've been in that even has an organ... though I must say, I've not one to frequent churches.
I suspect a professional musician would either be considered a "performance artist" and do concerts, or would give lessons, possibly through a music school of some kind.
Cheers,
Bev
I suspect a professional musician would either be considered a "performance artist" and do concerts, or would give lessons, possibly through a music school of some kind.
Cheers,
Bev
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39,151 Posts
In France, a professional organist would make a living in just the same way as in the US:
Salaried organist position in a cathedral or a large church (Notre Dame de Paris, St-Sulpice, La Madeleine, Sacré-Coeur etc)
With major orchestra
On the staff of music college (conservatoire), university, music teacher in school
and for a select few, as concert musician.
Many organists combine two or more roles.
As well as finding a job, there is a tricky question of work permit and visa. If you don't have a passport from an EU country, you need a work visa, and none will be issued unless a) you are a musician of international repute and can get an artist visa or your employer will go through a work permit process for you; or b) you get one for another, unrelated job or as student/researcher (e.g. PhD) and work in your spare time by playing in churches or giving private lessons.
Also you need, for most jobs, a high degree of French, and it's virtually impossible to get a position as teacher in state schools as they normally only appoint French nationals (not even other EU citizens) as civil servants who are directly employed by Ministry of National Education.
Salaried organist position in a cathedral or a large church (Notre Dame de Paris, St-Sulpice, La Madeleine, Sacré-Coeur etc)
With major orchestra
On the staff of music college (conservatoire), university, music teacher in school
and for a select few, as concert musician.
Many organists combine two or more roles.
As well as finding a job, there is a tricky question of work permit and visa. If you don't have a passport from an EU country, you need a work visa, and none will be issued unless a) you are a musician of international repute and can get an artist visa or your employer will go through a work permit process for you; or b) you get one for another, unrelated job or as student/researcher (e.g. PhD) and work in your spare time by playing in churches or giving private lessons.
Also you need, for most jobs, a high degree of French, and it's virtually impossible to get a position as teacher in state schools as they normally only appoint French nationals (not even other EU citizens) as civil servants who are directly employed by Ministry of National Education.
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